Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa Forward Party President Vijai Sardesai on Tuesday said that the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGDPA) has flagrantly junked all the rules and procedures and has proved once again that they have no respect or regard for any form of governance.
Speaking to the media persons following the SGDPA meeting, Vijai said that the minutes of the previous meeting have been manipulated and the major observations of the meeting were not recorded.
He stated that the authority did not record any statement of his address in the previous meeting which prompted him to take serious objection, which then led to the recording of the Minutes of the Meeting.
Vijai said that Nuvem MLA and Chairman of SGPDA Wilfred D’Sa wants to create a new Outline Development Plan (ODP) without a prior Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) and Land Use Plan.
He pointed out that during his time as the Town and Country Planning minister, he consistently sought the advice of the NGOs, and diligently made corrections in the Land Use Plan.
“They (SGPDA) intend to use the Land Use Plan of 2018 for a new ODP they are planning for,” Vijai hit out.
“Pramod Sawant’s government has trashed all procedures, practices and measures to make a quick buck for their election fund,” he alleged.
Vijai highlighted that a matter of an existing ODP is still pending in the High Court, and while that matter is currently unresolved, why is the government and Chairman of SGPDA pushing for a new ODP?” The former TCP minister was scathing.
“The government and SGPDA Chairman Wilfred D’Sa does not give a damn about the High Court, which only goes on to show that the Chief Minister and Wilfred D’Sa will go to any extent to cheat and defraud.”
Vijai likened the Sawant government to that of a final over in a T20 match.
“They are moving rapidly, junking all rules and laid down procedures to ensure collection of funds for the 2022 Assembly elections,” he added.
Vijai claimed that “the BJP is operating under a divide and rule policy, and is repeatedly shying away from its responsibilities.”
He said that “changing the rules as and when they want clearly displays their weaknesses and vulnerabilities which is why the BJP is not fielding its candidates officially. There’s no doubt that they are afraid of their own party image and track record.”
